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On the Road: Our team look at the best selling bike racks

Getting out of town and into the backwoods before you scream at everyone is more of a necessity than a luxury sometimes and cycling silently through the country is the best medicine around. So how do you get there?

How do you get your wheeled steed out of the city easily? Bike racks are your answer – attaching to your vehicle and keeping your bike firmly fixed while you drive to the place where you leave your cares and worries behind.

The main types of bike rack are hitch-mounted, roof-mounted and strap or truck mounted:

Hitch Mounted Racks:

A hitch mounted bike rack slides into the receiver of a trailer hitch on a car or truck, making loading and unloading bikes very easy. They tend to be aerodynamically designed, can have a large capacity of up to five bikes, and will fit on a great variety of vehicles. They also tend to be the most expensive option.

Roof Mounted Racks:

These are very versatile and are not just limited to carrying bikes. Access to doors, tailgates, hatches etc. are not hindered by your cargo; however, it is easy to forget your bikes and go under something low, potentially wrecking your bike and damaging your vehicle. You are also increasing gas consumption by adding aero-drag. If you drive an SUV, truck, van or another high vehicle, it can be awkward to fix your bike up on the roof.

Strap, or Trunk, Mounted Racks:

Strap mounted racks tend to be the least expensive option, but also the least secure. The only thing attaching your bikes to your vehicles are straps that hook round the lip of your trunk, hatch or bumper. Highly adjustable, strap mounted racks can be fitted to the rear of most vehicles. If you don’t fit it correctly and securely you can lose bikes when driving along, and they are very easy to steal.

You also need to consider how many bikes do you plan on carrying, and how competent a driver you are. Seeing three bikes swaying around on a rack in your mirror won’t help with your nerves. By the same token you might worry about bikes mounted on the roof — although you’ll quickly forget about them, which means there is then the chance you’ll absentmindedly drive into a height restriction. In contrast, a hitch mounted rack is secure and won’t cause any unnecessary or unpleasant distractions.

Overview

This arrived packaged very neatly, with every loose part in bags, labelled clearly. The instructions are simple and putting it together didn’t take too long. It fits securely to the back of our SUV.

What We Like

We were impressed with how secure this was; we loaded it with two bikes and headed off into the backwoods. It didn’t wobble, move, sway, squeak, anything. And once we arrived at our destination, unloading was quick and simple. It’s also excellent value for money.

What Needs Improving

The bikes are mounted close together, and we did have to shift the pedals and bars around, so they didn’t knock together, but that’s not a problem.

9.6Expert Score

The Final Verdict

An awesome bike rack for two bikes – it has options available for up to 5 bikes. It’s sturdy, well made and works well, and at a great price. Plus lifetime warranty! You can't go wrong.

Overview

On opening the packaging, we were surprised by how rugged and strong this rack is, as it weighs comparatively little. The instructions were great, and the rack ready to use in minutes. It’s got some really good ideas incorporated into its design, so we’ll see how they work.

What We Like

The tilt design of this rack is so incredibly useful! If you need to get into the rear of your vehicle, the whole rack arm tilts back, allowing you unhindered access. While we were using it, nothing moved or shook, and we couldn’t even produce a wobble by swinging on it when stationary – all in the name of testing, you understand!

What Needs Improving

We’ve thought about this over and over, and there isn’t anything we would improve!

9.8Expert Score

The Final Verdict

This rack is really well made, sturdy and wobble free; the price band is great too. It's our top choice.

About The Gadget Nerds

We’re a small bunch of tech-savvy geeks in our late 20’s and early 30’s. Our passion for the tech industry led to the creation of The Gadget Nerds, where we have the honor of reviewing some of the best must-have gadgets that you can pick up on Amazon.

We remain dedicated in our mission to review the best tech products, taking the time and hassle away from you as a buyer. Our approach is to be thorough and impartial, and ultimately let you be the judge.

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